Find out how to get around Brussels using the city's public transport network...

The STIB/MIVB (Société de Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles/Maatschappij Voor Het Intercommunaal Vervoer te Brussel) company runs the public transport services in Brussels, with an integrated network of trams, metro and buses.

The bus, tram and metro service runs from 05:30 onwards, with shorter hours on Sundays and public holidays. Night buses run on Fridays until approximately 03:00 from the centre of Brussels to just beyond the university area and cost one and a half times the price of a single ticket. Buses, trams and trains run at different times and reduced frequency during school holidays.

Tickets

Tickets can be bought from a large number of outlets, including newsagents and some supermarkets, and are valid on all three services. It is cheaper to buy tickets from other outlets rather than from the driver. There is an automated service, Go, which can be found in every metro station. Ticket outlets, Kiosk and Bootik are found in some stations and offer season tickets, weekly tickets and travel passes.

Single tickets allow passengers an unlimited number of changes for one hour and can be bought on buses and trams. It is possible to buy a booklet of five or ten single tickets, valid for three years, which works out cheaper than a single ticket. These are only available from sales outlets and not on board.

Note: Season tickets have a photocard and must be presented to the driver for each journey. All other tickets must be validated before starting a journey and should be punched at the orange machines on each bus or tram or before each metro platform. This machine records time and route onto the ticket and rejects any tickets that are over the one hour limit or expired. Keep the ticket throughout the journey. Fines are levied for travelling without a ticket.

Using Public Transport

Trams can be entered by any door, but on buses passengers must enter through the front doors so that the driver can check or sell a ticket, which must still be validated afterwards. Passengers with reduced mobility and those travelling with pushchairs should note that the older type trams have high steps and narrow middle doors, making them difficult to access. The new type of trams are easier, with the floor at pavement level and wider middle doors.

Bicycles

Bicycles can be taken onto metros and new, low floor trams. Only two bicycles per tram are allowed.

Services for the disabled

Some metro stations are accessible for people with reduced mobility, and staff are available to help with getting on and off.

A door-to-door minibus service is available on request by telephone, post, fax or email. The service is available from 06:30-23:00.